Kristina Hagman shares a daughter’s perspective on her father, actor Larry Hagman, in ‘The Eternal Party,’ a telling and no holds barred memoir of the dysfunction and addiction that plagued his life. Larry Hagman, of I Dream of Jeannie and Dallas fame, and son of Broadway star Mary Martin, is painted in a different light than many might know him in, in Kristina’s truth telling of her life as it overlapped with his.

The beginning of the memoir has Kristina questioning her father’s desire to be forgiven as he lay dying. The remainder of the book searches the various aspects of his life for which she considers forgiveness might have been sought. From his relationship with his mother and stepfather, to his life with his wife and children, on to the image he portrayed to the outside world versus that which he lived in reality, Kristina calls everything into question. She shares how life as the daughter of a TV star shaped who she spent time with, how she spent her life, and the person she became as a result of it all.

Hagman’s storytelling cuts to the core of who her father really was and how his life was so influential on her own. He lived a very bohemian lifestyle with his family, changing, and possibly even shattering, the image of the person who readers might think he was based on knowing him from his television shows and movies.

Life with various celebrities and family members is outlined, including how her father drank, used marijuana, had liaisons with other women, and constantly worried about having enough money. This memoir does a nice job of showcasing her father, Larry Hagman, as an “everyman,” while at the same time making it abundantly clear that he was anything but that. His life was filled with extravagances beyond what ordinary people can imagine, yet he was a man of the people who often did not even know how to live his own life well. His ordinariness in spite of his celebrity makes for an interesting story for his daughter to share.

For readers who are looking for more about Larry Hagman’s life in theater, film, and television, it would be wise to check out his autobiography, ‘Hello Darlin’,’ as it showcases those ideas so much more than in this memoir. Anyone expecting more along these lines may be disappointed, but the stories that come from Kristina Hagman’s memories serve as great fodder for those who are eager to learn more about the different facets of Larry Hagman’s life.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

You can find ‘The Eternal Party’ by Kristina Hagman here.